The state of Salzburg presented a new relief package of around 28 million euros “to supplement the existing measures in an accurate manner” on Thursday. This was announced by Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP), Deputy Governor Martina Berthold (Greens) and State Councilor Andrea Klambauer (NEOS) at a joint media event in the morning.
Salzburg relief package in detail
- Price cap on the average consumption of 1,000 kilowatt hours of hot water boilers to 10 cents from May 1, 2023.
- Extension of the beneficiaries of the heating cost subsidy to 1,300 euros (14 times a year), increase of the heating cost subsidy this year from 300 euros to 600 euros.
- Increase of the emergency fund by one million euros.
- Increase in the federal electricity cost supplement for households with more than three residents from July 1, 2023 with a credit for the annual statement.
- Access to housing assistance will be easier and will include net rents of up to EUR 10.20 per square meter from May 1, 2023.
“With these purposeful grants, we support many households in Salzburg in addition to the existing protective shields,” said Governor Haslauer, LH Deputy. Berthold and State Councilor Klambauer agree. “The focus is on hot water boilers, the heating subsidy, the emergency fund, households with four or more residents and extended housing assistance. The focus is on areas that have not yet been adequately covered.”
28 million euros for Salzburg households
The basis for the package is a one-time special-purpose grant from the federal government for housing and heating costs amounting to 450 million euros. According to the population key, the state of Salzburg is entitled to around 28 million euros. The exact modalities are left to the countries. “This allows us to react to the individual forms of heating and income limits in Salzburg and ensure the best possible help. In this way, we want to relieve families in particular, right down to the middle class, but also people with low incomes, who are hit hardest by inflation,” says Haslauer.
Support for energy-intensive boilers
So far, hot water boilers have not been considered in any funding. “Many households in Salzburg get their hot water from boilers and struggle with their power consumption. Here we cap the price for the average consumption of 1,000 kilowatt hours to 10 cents. This saves an average of 146 euros per year,” explains Haslauer.
How many people should benefit
With the expansion of the target groups for the heating cost subsidy, significantly more Salzburg residents are now entitled to the heating cost subsidy, which has been doubled to 600 euros. “It is important that we support those people who need it most. The money will benefit around 60,000 people in Salzburg. By doubling it to 600 euros, we are creating real relief,” explains Martina Berthold, who adds: “In addition, we are increasing the emergency fund by one million euros.”
Housing assistance will be expanded
Households with four or more people will automatically receive a credit of at least 100 euros in their annual statement for 2023, as well as for each additional person in the household. 8.5 million euros are available for this. “Large families require more electricity and are particularly affected by price increases. That’s why families from the fourth person receive this support, which has a targeted cost-cutting effect,” says Provincial Councilor Andrea Klambauer. “With the housing allowance, we have a strong tool to support households in a targeted and permanent manner with their housing costs. It’s a safety net so that the rental costs don’t overwhelm you and make up a maximum of 25 percent of the household income,” says Klambauer. Access to housing assistance will be easier and will include net rents of up to EUR 10.20 per square meter from May 1, 2023.
Opposition criticizes the timing of the measures
The Salzburg SPÖ is basically satisfied with the measures, they just come very late. “You could have implemented this relief months ago,” says SPÖ leader David Egger. “My suggestions were on the table and the money would have been available through the booster funds in the state budget.” Unfortunately, the government only woke up before the election.
The FPÖ also criticizes the timing of the measures: It is a mystery to the FP state party leader Marlene Svazek “why the state government only takes care of the inflation that has been visible for months seven weeks before the election,” the Freedom Party said in a broadcast. The fact that an upcoming election is needed “so that the ÖVP can react and make politics” is significant. The increase in the heating subsidy is also more about “preselection sweets” and combating symptoms than an actual solution.
KPÖ grants do not go far enough
For the KPÖ, the announced relief package does not go far enough: “The official poverty risk limit is 1,371 euros net for single people and 2,057 euros for couples. But the state government is setting the bar even lower,” criticized Salzburg municipal councilor Kay-Michael Dankl in a broadcast in the afternoon . In this way, the Salzburg state government does not even reach all Salzburg residents who are at risk of poverty, “not to mention the middle class”.
(Source: SALZBURG24)
